"Planetarium" from Jana Sterbak: Acquisition Unveiled at MMFA as the Canadian Artist Receives the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is pleased to unveil a work of art by Canadian artist Jana Sterbak: Planetarium. The installation presented at the Museum, for the first time in Montreal, is composed of monumental spheres of blown glass arranged on an aluminum table. The large-scale work, in the process of being acquired by the Museum, will benefit from major donations from Montreal patron Miriam J. Roland and the artist.
The unveiling took place last night, when Jana Sterbak received the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec. This distinction bestowed by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) honours individuals who have played a prominent role, through their commitment and dedication, in the development, promotion, and dissemination of arts and literature in Quebec.
Planetarium The Planetarium installation was created by Jana Sterbak at the Centre international de recherche sur le verre et les arts plastiques (Cirva) in Marseille, an old garment factory that was transformed into a contemporary arts centre. The Centre offers research and contemporary creation workshops that allow artists to introduce glass into their artistic approach by working with highly specialized technical teams. In this research residency context, Jana Sterbak created eight works using glass with the Cirva teams, including Dissolution (Auditorium) (2000–2001), in the Musée des beaux-arts du Québec collection, Narcisse (2001), in the Cirva collection, and Planetarium.
In addition to Planetarium, the MMFA has three other Sterbak works in its collection: Sans titre (1982), a series of three prints, Boudoir (1988), a fabric bas-relief, and The Hair Shirt (1992), a performance garment.
Image: From left to right: Geneviève Goyer-Ouimette, MBAM; Anne-Marie Jean, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec; Jana Sterbak, artiste; Miriam J. Roland, donatrice; et Nathalie Bondil, MBAM. Photo: Sébastien Roy
